Overnight in Muang Sing.
The town of MUANG SING, home to the THAI LUE peoples, draws peoples from around the region to trade, including THAI DAM, LAO HUAN (LENTEN), AKHA, H'MONG, MIEN, LOLO and YUNNANESE. Tour the town, visiting the LOCAL MARKET, the main Buddhist Temples, WAT XIENG JAI and WAT NAM KAEW LUANG, before striking out into the countryside and visiting some of the different minority villages in the area.By vehicle from Muang Sing to Luang Nam Tha
Travel to Luang Nam Tha along winding roads through beautiful tropical forests, passing hill tribe villages en route.
Overnight in Luang Nam Tha.
The provincial capital of Luang Nam Tha Province, this town is expanding rapidly in its role as a centre for commerce between China, Thailand and Laos. Visit the LOCAL MARKET and PHOUM POUK PAGODA, first built in 1624, now in ruins after the Indochina War. Continue to the LUANG NAM THA MUSEUM for an overview of the different ethnic minorities that inhabit the area.
In the afternoon, explore the many minority villages in the area, including a BLACK TAI VILLAGE. The Black Tai are known for their silk production and weaving. Sometimes water wheels can be seen milling rice. Continue to a 200 year old LENTEN village, whose inhabitants are known for paper making and indigo dyes; and a KHMU VILLAGE known for basketry and water gourds. Time permitting, visits can be arranged to a HMONG VILLAGE with a handicrafts cooperative, which has a selection of handicrafts from surrounding ethnic groups and/or another LENTEN VILLAGE near a nice waterfall (cold season only).
Overnight in Luang Nam Tha.
Overnight in Nong Khiaw.
From Nong Khiaw, cruise along the Nam Ou River to Luang Prabang, stopping en route at the steep limestone cliffs overlooking the Mekong and Nam Ou rivers, home to the PAK OU CAVES. These extraordinary caves are filled with Buddha images, of every style and material imaginable. Continue to BAN XANG HAI, a local village famous for the production of lao-lao, the local rice wine whisky, before arriving in Luang Prabang.
